Mexican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry after Deportation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2012

Contact: Mark E. Salter
Assistant United States Attorney
605-357-2360

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Manuel Cortez-Flores, a/k/a Manuel Flores-Cortez, a/k/a Hugo Flores-Flores, age 27, a Mexican citizen, appeared before United States District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on April 24, 2012, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with Illegal Reentry After Deportation. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.

On January 19, 2012, a person using the name Hugo Flores-Flores was arrested by law enforcement officials in Walworth County for Possession of a Forged Instrument. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted, and during an interview, Flores-Flores stated that his true name was Manuel Cortez-Flores and that he was a citizen of Mexico. The man also admitted he had previously been removed from Tacoma, Washington, to Mexico. Further investigation by ICE and a fingerprint match through NCIC proved that Flores-Flores, Manuel Cortez-Flores and Manuel Flores-Cortez are the same person and that he had been removed from Tacoma, Washington, in August 2011.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay Miller.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for June 11, 2012. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.